Los Cabos three ways

What’s the difference between travelling and vacationing? Some say it comes down to where you choose to lay your head. And in most cases, the right accommodations can elevate your time away from great to glorious. So, if you’re looking to invest a little more in your next Mexican vacation, consider the upscale accommodations Los Cabos has to offer — some that are truly a bargain for a lot of luxury.

Downtown and delightful in San José

Tropicana Los Cabos feels a bit like stepping back into the halcyon days of Mexican vacations, where things were smaller, more intimate and definitely packed with luxury. Seventy rooms cluster around the most serene, blue-tiled pool, with a whirlpool at one end and water fountain at the other. Plenty of loungers are tucked among mature trees and flowering plants, along with a small bar and delightful sculptures by local artists.

Built in 1956, the inn is now a Hilton property, so rooms are perfectly outfitted with all the modern convenience including televisions and coffee makers, while touches of tradition remain, such as tiled floors and showers.

Back in the day, the streetside restaurant at the inn served as a meeting place for Joséfinos (locals), where business deals were sealed and special occasions celebrated.

Today, as Tropicana Cocina de las Californias, the menu celebrates the entire length of the Baja peninsula. Dishes are based in tradition, but feature a modern twist. The aguachile — a dish of raw fish marinated in lime juice — was truly the best I’ve ever had, this one with roasted avocado, green aguachile cold-brew and a jalapeño mignonette. But the unforgettable part of dinner was the tortilla soup with its charred-tomato base, poured tableside for a dramatic touch to a truly delicious classic.

Perhaps the very best thing about Tropicana Los Cabos is its location. It’s a short block to the main square called Plaza Mijares, and your starting point for the hugely popular Thursday-night event, the San José del Cabo Art Walk. Starting at 5 p.m., the plaza fills with musicians, performers, vendors and artists who are more than happy to chat about their work.

You can pick up an original work for as little as $20, or make a bigger investment in one of the 14 galleries that surround the square.

It’s Mexico at its finest, and truly a must-do.

Treehouse slumber, mezcal memories

Relive your childhood memories of sleeping in a treehouse — except this one has a private terrace, outdoor shower, ensuite bathroom, mini fridge and luxurious linens. Treehouse accommodations are part of Acre, a luxury resort in the San José foothills from the minds of a pair of Canadian friends who are always adding to the property that now includes a wedding venue, haciendas, villas, gardens, horseback riding, pools, signature restaurants, rabbits, chickens, pigs, ducks, goats and the wildly popular Acre Dogs, a rescue shelter that’s found homes for over 1,500 pups.

Book a mezcal tasting to get your introduction to the smoky spirit that’s giving tequila a run for its money. La Tierra de Acre Mezcal is a collection made in collaboration with small-batch mezcaleros where you can experience the differences between the varietals Espadín, Cenizo, Tobalá and Tepeztate at the bar before stepping into dinner at the Acre Restaurant and Cocktail Bar. The irrepressible chef David Fajardo and his team look to their organic property for inspiration to create dishes that have garnered a Michelin Green Star. Favourites included crispy rice bites topped with sushi-grade tuna, Hamachi tiradito with dill, mustard, herbs and avocado, the artfully plated mixed beet salad and for dessert, the corn cake with mezcal caramel sauce.

Cape vibes on the ocean blue

From historic San José, head south the bustling Cabo San Lucas where it’s time to get on the water. Endless operators are standing by to take vacationers out on the Gulf of California, known locally as the Sea of Cortez. For example, Cabo Sailing offers yacht rentals and operates tours with stops at the iconic El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, Playa del Amor (lovers beach) and a stop at Playa Santa Maria for snorkelling in those baby blue waters.

For a big splurge, book at The Cape, a boutique hotel tucked into the side of a rocky shoreline, where every room offers a view of El Arco. The list of amenities in this architecturally impressive property includes an infinity pool with a swim-up bar, saltwater pool, sixth-storey rooftop lounge, spa, fitness centre and Manta, one of Cabo’s 14 Michelin-starred restaurants.

But it’s the guest rooms that really impress. Oversized and decorated in an eclectic style called mid-century Latin American, the rooms feature natural wood elements and cool blue-mosaic tiles, rain showers, a copper-clad soaking tub, a craft cocktail bar and gourmet minibar plus your very own complimentary bottle of tequila. The balcony offers a swinging sofa, perfect for a siesta.

About Los Cabos

The Mexican destination at the tip of Baja California Peninsula attracts visitors with its desert-like climate, a big draw for those who prefer dry to tropical. Beyond that, it’s loaded with options for accommodations — from rustic to the ultra-luxurious — as well as a seemingly endless selection of restaurants and plenty to do — or nothing at all to do, if soaking up the sun is your priority.

Los Cabos has two main hubs. Situated about 32 kilometres apart, the small cities of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo are both on the coast of the Gulf of California, close to the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Sur state. Collectively, the cities are known as Los Cabos.

Cabo San Lucas is packed with seaside resorts as well as a marina featuring restaurants and shops. It’s home to the highly Instagrammed El Arco, also called Land’s End, where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean. San José del Cabo boasts a beautiful old-town vibe where authenticity rules and history is alive and well.

shel@shelzolkewich.com